Sprinkler protector

ABSTRACT

An improved sprinkler protector comprises a rigid, selfsupporting body having an upper recess to wholly enclose a sprinkler head, a transverse lower aperture to enclose a sprinkler connector and a small diameter central standpipe passageway interconnecting the recess and aperture. Detent means are provided in the area of the recess to prevent substantial depression of the sprinkler head and rupture of the sprinkler system adjacent the connector. Reinforcing means and anchoring means for the protector body may also be provided.

United States Patent Hedman [151 3,662,956 [451 May 16, 1972 [54]SPRINKLER PROTECTOR [72] Inventor; Ernest L. Hedrnan, 3414 CulverStreet, Bakersfield, Calif. 93306 [22] Filed: Aug. 6, 1970 [21]Appl.No.: 61,728

[52] U.S. Cl ..239/201, 239/288.5 [51] Int. Cl ..B05b 15/06 [58] Fieldof Search ..239/200, 201, 204, 276, 288,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1965 Hanson ..239/201X2/1962 Nickell ..239/201X 3,018,057 1/1962 Anderson ..239/20l 3,015,4481/1962 Hurless ..239/201 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, .lr. AssistantExaminer-Michael Y. Mar Attorney-Henry M. Bissell [57] ABSTRACT Animproved sprinkler protector comprises a rigid, self-supporting bodyhaving an upper recess to wholly enclose a sprinkler head, a transverselower aperture to enclose a sprinkler connector and a small diametercentral standpipe passageway interconnecting the recess and aperture.Detent means are provided in the area of the recess to preventsubstantial depression of the sprinkler head and rupture of thesprinkler system adjacent the connector. Reinforcing means and anchoringmeans for the protector body may also be provided.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention The present invention relates to lawn sprinkling systems ofthe underground conduit, flush sprinkler head type and, moreparticularly, to protectors for such systems.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various devices have been designed toenclose fluid sprinkler heads, such as lawn water sprinkler heads, toprevent damage thereto by striking them inadvertently with the foot orwith a lawn mower or the like. Such devices as are known usually areembedded in the soil flush with the ground, and they generally surroundthe sides of the sprinkler head. Although they offer a measure ofprotection for the sprinkler heads themselves, they do not protectagainst bending or rupture of underground piping connected to thesprinkler head if impact force is applied directly downward so that thehead is substantially depressed. In such an event, depression of thestandpipe connected to the sprinkler head occurs with consequenttransmission of displacing force to the T-connector or other connectorto which the standpipe is connected below the ground and other pipingconnected below ground to the T- connector. Such piping and connectorusually are closely held in the soil, so that there is no room for thesame to move freely without damage.

Pipe rupture is particularly prevalent as a result of substantialsprinkler head depression when at least part of the underground pipingis of the commonly used, inexpensive and easily assembled, plastic typesuch as polyvinyl chloride tubing or the like. Unfortunately, plasticpipe is easily ruptured when subjected to strong bending force appliedat threaded or clamped pipe joints, such as at the point of connectionwith a T-connector normally used in such sprinkler systems. Thestandpipe and T-connector may be of metal or the like, and as such areless subject to rupture than the plastic pipe connected to theT-connector, but this difference in reaction bending force between themetal T-connector and the attached plastic pipe may actually contributeto the danger of rupture of the plastic pipe.

Since much of the cost of sprinkler systems is represented by theinstallation cost, repair of ruptures is very expensive, as well asinconvenient and time-consuming. Underground ruptures also may bedifi'rcult to detect immediately and may cause substantial fluid wasteand damage to plants, trees and nearby structures before being detected.Accordingly, improved overall sprinkler protection is highly desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The improved sprinkler protector of theinvention is generally described in the abstract above. It equallyprotects the T-connector or other type of underground connector, thestandpipe, the sprinkler head and the pipes connected to theT-connector, in contrast to the usual types of protectors which onlyoffer protection of the sprinkler head.

In the present devices, detent means are provided to prevent sufiicientdepression of the sprinkler head to cause severe displacement or bendingforce to be transmitted to the connector and attached pipes.Accordingly, pipe rupture is avoided. The protector is simple andinexpensive, yet durable and highly effective. It can be easily, rapidlyand permanently installed. It is neat and trim in appearance wheninstalled and simplifies the lawn maintenance problem pertaining totrimming lawn growth about a sprinkler head.

DRAWINGS A better understanding of the invention may be had from aconsideration of the following detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of theimproved sprinkler protector of the invention in place in the grounddisposed around a sprinkler, with portions of the protector broken awayto illustrate the internal construction thereof;

FIG. 2 is a schematic top plan view of the protector of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevation of a second embodiment of theimproved sprinkler protector of the invention, partly in section, shownwith a sprinkler disposed therein; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic side sectional view of still another embodiment ofthe invention, configured for installation adjacent a curb or walk.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1 and 2 In General A first embodiment of theimproved sprinkler protector of the invention is schematically depictedin perspective view in FIG. 1. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, the protector10 comprises a rigid, self-supporting body 12 of any suitable materialsuch as metal, plastic, wood, glass or the like, but preferably adurable inexpensive substance such as concrete, cement or the like whichis easily cast to the desired configuration and is capable of resistanceto erosion when disposed in the soil or the like at ground level, suchas is shown generally at 14 in FIG. 1. Body 12 may be of any suitablesize and shape, preferably cylindrical or frusto-conical, as illustratedschematically in FIGS. 1 and 2. Preferably, body 12 has relatively flat,generally horizontally extending top and bottom surfaces, 16 and 18,respectively, and an interconnecting smooth side surface 20, and issolid and unitary in structure, but may be fabricated, if desired, of aplurality of components and may if desired be a hollow-walled structure(not shown).

Recess, Aperture and Passageway Body 12 is characterized, in part, byhaving at its upper end 22 a generally centrally disposed recess 24(FIGS. 1 and 2) extending down from surface 16 and dimensioned to whollyreceive sprinkler head 26 so that the upper surface 28 of head 26 isabout level with surface 16. The lower end 30 of body 12 defines anaperture 32 extending across the entire width of body 12 and dimensionedto receive a sprinkler connector 34, preferably a T-connector as shownin FIG. 1. Connector 34 preferably is wholly disposed within aperture32, also as shown in FIG. 1. Body 12 further includes a generallycentrally disposed, generally vertically extending passageway 36communicating with aperture 32 and recess 24 of substantially smalleraverage diameter than recess 24 but large enough to accommodatestandpipe 37. Recess 24, aperture 32 and passageway 34 may be tubular orthe like in configuration. Preferably passageway 34 is centered withinbody 12 and recess 24 and the latter is cylindrical.

Detent Means An important feature of the invention is detent meansprovided in body 12 to prevent substantial depression of head 26 withinrecess 24 and consequent direction of rupturing force on connector 34and/or attached pipes (not shown). The detent means can merely comprisethe natural restriction resulting from the small diameter passageway inconjunction with the larger diameter recess. Alternatively, such detentmeans can comprise a separate shelf 38 or narrowed area in the area ofbody 12 defining recess 24 itself, as shown in FIG. 1. Such shelf 38 maybe cylindrical or the like and is disposed below surface 16 a distanceat least equal to and preferably slightly greater than the thickness ofthe periphery of head 26. Alternatively, such detent means may comprisea ring 40 or the like, preferably of resilient material, such as rubber,synthetic rubber or plastic or the like such as is shown in FIG. 3,hereinafter more fully described.

In any event, the described detent means restricts downward displacementof head 26 when it is stepped on or when a heavy object, such as alawnmower wheel, push cart, etc. is rolled thereover, thus protectingthe entire sprinkler system. Preferably, the detent means should bepositioned to allow for a small amount of downward give" in thesprinkler system to protect head 26 from being mashed by a heavy objectagainst the detent means if the latter is not resilient, but

the give" should not be so factor afforded by the detent FIG. 3

In the second embodiment of the invention schematically depicted in FIG.3 in side elevation, partly in section, a protector 42 is shown,comprising a generally frusto-conical body 44 disposed with its topsurface 46 at ground level 48 and the remainder thereof buried. Theupper end 50 of body 44 is provided with a central cylindrical recess 52within which is wholly disposed sprinkler head 54, the upper surface 56thereof about level with surface 46. The lower end 58 of body 44 isprovided with an aperture 60 extending across the width thereof withinwhich is wholly disposed T-connector 62. A vertical central tubularpassageway 64, smaller in diameter than recess 52, interconnectsaperture 60 and recess 52, and encloses a standpipe 66 interconnectingT-connector 62 and sprinkler head 54. As previously described, detentmeans in the form of a resilient rubber ring 40 is disposed between head54 and the bottom of recess 52. Moreover, resilient support means in theform of, for example, a rubber, synthetic rubber or the like pad 68 isdisposed adjacent the bottom of aperture 60 below T-connector 62 tocushion the same in the event of some depression of head 54. Body 44 canbe fabricated in any suitable manner of materials such as thosepreviously described for body 12.

Reinforcing and Anchoring Means Body 44 can be provided, if desired,with reinforcing means such as an annular ring 70 of steel, aluminum,etc. preferably embedded in the outer surface of body 44 at the upperend 50 thereof if body 44 is cast of cement, concrete or the like. Ring70 prevents chipping of end 50. A similar reinforcement of the lower end58 of body 44 can be provided by bands 72 of steel, aluminum or the likesimilarly embedded in the outer surface of body 44, as shown in FIG. 3.

Body 44 further can be provided with anchoring means such as downwardlyprojecting legs 74 cast or'otherwise formed in end 58 and adapted toeasily anchor body 44 in an upright osition around head 54, standpipe 66and connector 62, as shown in FIG. 3.

In FIG. 4 a particular modification of the protector in accordance withthe invention is shown. Here a protector 80, which may be fabricated asalready described, is formed with a flat side 82 for installing close toa curb or sidewalk 83. The protector 80 has a recess 84 within its upperface 85 for receiving the sprinkler head 87 and supporting it againstdownward movement which might rupture the buried piping system connectedthereto. The cylindrical aperture 86 containing the standpipe 88 islocated adjacent the flat side 82, thus permitting the sprinkler head tobe installed at the very edge of the lawn, as is customary for wateringalong a sidewalk, while still affording the desired protection alreadydescribed. Except for the particular configuration of the protector 80which permits installation about the sprinkler head adjacent someobstruction such as a walk or curb at the edge of a lawn, the protector80 and the rest of the elements depicted in FIG. 4 may be essentiallythe same as the arrangements of FIGS. 1 or 3, as desired. The protector80 may also be provided with a pair of adjacent flat sides forming anangled corner for installation in a corner of the lawn.

INSTALLATION Protectors 10, 42 and 80 can easily be installed. Thus, theprotector can be placed over a connector in an open trench before orafter the appropriate pipes are connected thereto, and with or withoutthe standpipe in place. The top surface of the protector is positionedat ground level. Obviously, the aperture in the protector will bealigned with the connector and any connected pipes. If the protector hasanchoring means they are embedded in the base of the trench. If theprotector has a resilient support means for the connector, this will bepositioned under the connector when fitting the protector over theconnector.

After the underground connections are made and the standpipe is inplace, the sprinkler head can be attached to the standpipe. The trenchis filled around the protector and the latter is now permanentlyinstalled and operable.

With the present protector, underground rupture of fluid sprinklersystems is substantially reduced, inasmuch as undue depression of thesprinkler head is avoided, while protecting the head itself from damage.Accordingly, substantial benefits are obtained at relatively low costand with a simple, efficient and permanent device.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved sprinkler protector comprising:

a rigid self-supporting body having relatively flat, generallyhorizontally extending top and bottom surfaces and aninterconnectingside surface;

the upper end of said body defining a generally centrally disposedrecess extending down from said top surface and adapted to receive afluid sprinkler head wholly therein;

the lower end of said body defining an aperture having an open bottomextending across the width of said body and adapted to receive asprinkler connector;

said body further defining a generally centrally disposed,

generally vertically extending passageway communicating with saidaperture and said recess and adapted to receive a standpipeinterconnecting said connector and said sprinkler head;

said body further including in the area of said recess a sprinkler headdetent which prevents substantial downward displacement of said headrelative to said protector.

2. The improved sprinkler protector of claim 1 wherein said body is asolid, unitary body; wherein said recess, aperture and passageway aregenerally tubular; wherein said aperture is adapted to wholly enclose aT-connector, and wherein said passageway is smaller in diameter thansaid recess.

3. The improved protector of claim 1 wherein said detent comprises agenerally cylindrical shelf defining a portion of said recess adjacentthe bottom end thereof and adapted to support the bottom of a sprinklerhead when said head is depressed.

4. The improved sprinkler protector of claim 1 wherein said detentcomprises resilient support means disposed below said head in saidrecess.

5. The improved sprinkler protector of claim I wherein said protectorincludes resilient means disposed in said aperture adjacent the bottomthereof to cushion said connector during depression of said head.

6. The improved sprinkler lower end of said body directed legprojections.

7. The improved sprinkler protector of claim 2 wherein a reinforcingelement is disposed around said side surface adjacent the upper end ofsaid body.

8. The improved sprinkler protector of claim 7 wherein a reinforcingelement is also disposed adjacent the lower end of said body.

9. The improved sprinkler protector of claim 7 wherein said body isfrusto-conical and fabricated of cast cementitious material and whereinsaid reinforcing element comprises a steel ring embedded in said body atthe upper end thereof.

10. The improved sprinkler protector of claim 1 wherein said body has atleast one substantially flat side adjacent the passageway, said flatside spaced from the center of the passageway by approximately theradius of a conventional sprinkler head and connecting with one edge ofsaid recess, for permitting the installation of said protector adjacenta sidewalk or curb.

protector of claim 1 wherein the includes a plurality of downwardly

1. An improved sprinkler protector comprising: a rigid self-supportingbody having relatively flat, generally horizontally extending top andbottom surfaces and an interconnecting side surface; the upper end ofsaid body defining a generally centrally disposed recess extending downfrom said top surface and adapted to receive a fluid sprinkler headwholly therein; the lower end of said body defining an aperture havingan open bottom extending across the width of said body and adapted toreceive a sprinkler connector; said body further defining a generallycentrally disposed, generally vertically extending passagewaycommunicating with said aperture and said recess and adapted to receivea standpipe interconnecting said connector and said sprinkler head; saidbody further including in the area of said recess a sprinkler headdetent which prevents substantial downward displacement of said headrelative to said protector.
 2. The improved sprinkler protector of claim1 wherein said body is a solid, unitary body; wherein said recess,aperture and passageway are generally tubular; wherein said aperture isadapted to wholly enclose a T-connector, and wherein said passageway issmaller in diameter than said recess.
 3. The improved protector of claim1 wherein said detent comprises a generally cylindrical shelf defining aportion of said recess adjacent the bottom end thereof and adapted tosupport the bottom of a sprinkler head when said head is depressed. 4.The improved sprinkler protector of claim 1 wherein said detentcomprises resilient support means disposed below said head in saidrecess.
 5. The improved sprinkler protector of claim 1 wherein saidprotector includes resilient means disposed in said aperture adjacentthe bottom thereof to cushion said connector during depression of saidhead.
 6. The improved sprinkler protector of claim 1 wherein the lowerend of said body includes a plurality of downwardly directed legprojections.
 7. The improved sprinkler protector of claim 2 wherein areinforcing element is disposed around said side surface adjacent theupper end of said body.
 8. The improved sprinkler protector of claim 7wherein a reinforcing element is also disposed adjacent the lower end ofsaid body.
 9. The improved sprinkler protector of claim 7 wherein saidbody is frusto-conical and fabricated of cast cementitious material andwherein said reinforcing element comprises a steel ring embedded in saidbody at the upper end thereof.
 10. The improved sprinkler protector ofclaim 1 wherein said body has at least one substantially flat sideadjacent the passageway, said flat side spaced from the center of thepassageway by approximately the radius of a conventional sprinkler headand connecting with one edge of said recess, for permitting theinstallation of said protector adjacent a sidewalk or curb.